The passing of the torch

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 2016 Special Olympics went through Phillips County last Wednesday and many local athletes, Malta High students and adults were involved. The event was hosted by Malta's Border Patrol and other local law enforcement departments.

Among those athletes who biked, ran and walked the torch from Car Quest in Malta to the Phillips County Line west of Dodson was Laura Pankratz.

"I always do the overpass ride for Malta Trails," she said. "It's healthy and it donates to our local community Special Olympians."

She went on to say that the run isn't merely a novelty; it helps raise support and awareness for the event.

"We have a lot of disabled athletes that participate in the games," she said. "So we help their funding to get there and help with their food and lodging."

Pankratz rode her bike with her husband Bill and Carmen Luna.

"We're going to go over the overpass and bike into Dodson and back," Pankratz said. "I've done it for five years and I've always had a lot of Malta Trailers with me."

Last year Pankratz rode with Erik Engebretson from Malta all the way to Dodson and back.

Pankratz wasn't able to make the same trip as last year because of other business but her business didn't stop her from participating and sponsoring the miles she had to ride.

"It's my first time," Luna said. "Laura asked me to join, so I did and I'm going to be a part of the relay with her."

Luna said on a regular day she bikes about 12 miles.

"I'm trying to build up just around town for now," Luna said.

Pankratz typically bikes a lot of miles but this year she has been taking on a challenge to walk one thousand miles.

"I'm up to 500 so far this year," Pankratz said.

Luna was then asked what the event meant to her.

"It helps the community out and it helps keep me in shape," Luna said.

"You gotta keep moving or you just fall apart," Pankratz added.

All of the Olympians walked from Car Quest to Westside Self Service at the start.

Brian Kindle has been doing this event since 1992. It started when he lived in North Dakota.

"I worked for the Forest Service," Kindle said noting that his friend got him started. "He got us firefighters because we were running and getting in shape for the fire season."

He ran the event for five consecutive years until 1997 then moved home to Malta.

"They didn't have it here yet but when it got here I signed up," he said noting the event started three years after he moved back.

He shared the reason he does the event.

"Honestly they asked me to do it and I did it because they needed people," he said. "Now it feels good to raise a little money for these guys to go over to the Olympics, compete and feel good about themselves. Just helping them out."